[1][3] He learned the process of beer brewing from his father and operated his own brewery in Reading as an adult, employing many German immigrants who lived in the area.

[4][1] He was involved in several different charity organizations,[1] as well as the local agricultural society and board of trade,[1] and he was instrumental in getting Reading reclassified from a borough to a city.

[1] Despite some opposition from members of the temperance movement, the city was generally supportive of the monument based on Lauer's philanthropy and public service.

[1] According to a later article on the statue published by the Historical Society of Berks County, "Frederick Lauer was represented in the first monument erected in Reading because he embodied the ideals of a large part of his community".

[8] The statue was designed by George F. Stephens and cast by the Bureau Bros, while the stonework was carried out by P. F. Eisenbrown, Sons & Company.

[4] During the dedication ceremony, Henry H. Reuter, a former president of the Brewers' Association, gave an oration, during which he said, "Frederick Lauer stands there, for us, as the exemplar of true temperance, as the champion of personal liberty, as the exponent of the just claims of our time-honored trade, as its ever-ready defender and untiring promoter.

[7] The monument consists of a bronze statue of Lauer standing atop a multitiered granite pedestal and concrete base.

The two side plaques read: "LET HIS EXAMPLE TELL / THE BREWERS OF THIS / COUNTRY TO MAINTAIN / GOOD-FELLOWSHIP TO / PRESERVE THEIR ASSOCIATION / AND / TO DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS" and "His zeal sprung / from his firm conviction / that in striving to advance / the brewing trade / he was working for / the cause of national temperance".